Safety walking aid



' July 26, 1955 A. R. THOMAS 2,713,887

SAFETY WALKING AID Filed May 29, 1953 INVENTOR.

SAFETY WALKING AID Alvin R. Thomas, Weyauwega, Wis. Application May 29,1953, Serial No. 358,288 6 Claims. (Cl. 15522) This invention relates toa walking aid and more particularly to apparatus for aiding and traininginvalids, crippled children, spastic persons, and the like in developingor redeveloping their ambulatory abilities.

It is an important object of this invention to provide improvedapparatus for teaching the art of walking, said apparatus having greatlyimproved rigidity and stability. Many devices have heretofore beenproposed for aiding the development of skill and self-reliance inpersons learning or relearning to walk. The devices heretofore proposedhave generally failed to satisfactorily provide a sturdy, stable deviceuseful under the varying conditions encountered in the home. Thesedevices generally have utilized skids or slides for movement along asmooth surface such as a wooden or composition fioor or have employed arectangular structure having four caster-type wheels at the corners,capable of motion in any arbitrary direction, and consequently lackinglateral stability. Such devices as the two types above described aregenerally poorly adapted for use in the home, where such surfacediscontinuities as rugs and thresholds are encountered and where it isdesirable to maintain motion only in the forward direction to avoidpossible uncontrollable lateral movement and consequent damage tohousehold furnishings and injury to the patient.

Therefore it is a further object of this invention to provide animproved walking aid having a high degree of lateral stability.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved walkingaid well adapted for use by individuals of varying ability and by asingle individual throughout the successive stages of development ofwalking ability.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improvedwalking aid which is especially useful in d ascending, descending, andtraversing small surface discontinuities such as the edges of carpets,thresholds, small steps, and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved walkingaid of simple construction which may be easily disassembled forconvenient and inexpensive transportation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved walkingaid having an attractive appearance which is constructed preferably ofmaterials readily available and adapted for attractive finishing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved walkingaid which will not damage or destroy the surface of floors orfurnishings or otherwise aflect the surrounding appurtenances. 1

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved Walkingaid adjustable for use by patients of various heights.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improvedwalking aid which is mounted on cooperating rolling means andsliding'means whereby an niteci States Patent 0 increase in walkingskill will enable a patient to utilize the rolling means to anincreasing extent.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved walkingaid which is further adapted for the transportation of collateralarticles, such as magazines, newspapers, or the like.

Further and additional objects of this invention will become obviousfrom a consideration of this description, the accompanying drawing, andthe appended claims.

In one form of this invention a walking aid is provided having atransverse handle supported in adjustable spaced relationship from thefloor or other walking surface by a pair of generally vertical supportsadapted at their lower edges to form smooth sliding surfaces or skids. Asecond pair of supports extend forwardly from the generally verticalsupports and have secured thereto at their lower and forwardmost ends apair of rollers or wheels having a fixed axis of rotation which issubstantially parallel to the handle aforementioned. The axis of thewheels is generally disposed forwardly of the angular supports, wherebya longitudinal force applied to the angular supports by a patient willgenerally force the skid portions of the vertical supports intofrictional contact with the floor, thus preventing rapid, uncontrollablemotion or rotation of the wheels. The angular supports extend downwardlyadjacent to the wheels to a point in close proximity to the walkingsurface. Thus if the wheels suddenly encounter a break or discontinuityin the surface which would normally cause the device and patient to moveforward rapidly, the downward extensions on the angular supports willengage the surface to provide a stable support for the patient until theapparatus is tilted forward to cause the wheels to controllably engagethe lower surface for continued forward motion.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should bemade to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. I, viewed fromone side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, illustratingthe construction of theback portions thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,illustrating one wheel construction adapted for use with this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, awalking aid 10 is provided having a pair of generally vertical supports12 mounted in spaced relationship with a horizontal transverse bar 16extending therebetween. The bar 16 is fixed to each of theverticalsupports 12 by a cooperating nut and bolt '18 extending transverselythrough the vertical support and passing through the end portion of thebar 16 which is received in aperture 20 in said vertical support. Eachof the vertical supports 12 is provided with a vertical row of alignedapertures 22. One of the lowermost ones of these aper-. tures willnormally receive a bolt 24 which supports a pivotally mounted extension26. The vertical extension 26 may be pivoted to a vertical position (asshown in Fig. 2) at which an aperture 28 in the extension will alignwith one aperture of the row 22. By passing a bolt through the alignedapertures 28 and 22 and securing a nut thereto, the vertical extensions26 will be fixed in a position above the vertical supports 12 and willposition a handle 30 secured between the vertical extensions 26 at anydesired height above the floor surface. The length of vertical supports12 is so chosen that the bar 16 will be at the minimum height asrequired for relatively short patients. This has been generally found tobe at a height of approximately 32 inches above the floor. Byappropriately positioning bolts 24 and 28 to extend through preselectedapertures 22 in the vertical supports, the handle 30 may be positionedat one-inch intervals between 33 and 36 inches above the floor.

A pair of angular supports 32 are also received on the bar 16 and extendforwardly at a predetermined angle to the vertical supports to form awheel-supporting struc-* ture. The angular supports 32 are maintained ina predetermined angular relationship withrespect to the verticalsupports by bolts 34 extending through the juxtaposed portions of thetwo supports. To further reinforce the structure thus formed, atransverse member 36 extends between the lower portion of each of thevertical supports 12 and a preselectedposition-on the correspondingangular support 32 somewhat above the lower end thereof. The transversemember 36- is secured to the associated supports by bolts 38 andcooperating nuts, not shown,- and the lower edge 40- of the transversemember 36 is provided with a smooth floor-engaging surface and roundedcorners at each end thereof, whereby the edge 40 serves as a slide orskid capable of surmounting small obstacles such as thresholds andcarpet edges.

Extending forwardly from each of the angular supports 32 are a pair ofwheel brackets 42' and 43. The brackets 42 and 43 extend forwardly anddownwardly at an angle to each angular support 32. The bracket 43 issecured to the inside surface and the bracket 42 to the outside surfaceof support 32, whereby a wheel 44-having a thickness substantially equalto the thickness of the angular support may be received therebetween.Wheel 44 is mounted on the brackets 42 and 43 by passing an axle 46through aligned apertures in the brackets 42' and 43 and the wheel 44.This structure is most clearly shown in the sectional view of Fig. 4.The axle 46 is preferably of wood or similar high-friction material andhas a relatively large diameter. The axle is maintained inposition by apair of collars 48 and 50 disposed on opposite sides of the brackets 42and 43, respectively. The collars 48 and 50' have transverse aperturestherethrough' which align with apertures 52 in the axle 46 whereby acotter pin 54 or other similar retainer may be passed therethrough,thusretaining the wheel 44 rotatably positioned between the brackets 42and 43. exhibit a relatively large frictional force with respect to theaxle 46 whereby a patient utilizing this device will not find that, uponthe application of weight and a slight forward force on the bar 16, thedevice will lean forward slightly and the wheels will suddenly begin toroll rapidly, causing a jarring, sporadic motion which would generallyrender walking more difficult.

A large planar member 56 is disposed between the angular supports 32 andrigidly secured thereto to provide substantial strength in thetransverse plane to prevent any skewing or distortion in the structureabove described. Mounted to the planar member 56 is a receptaclecomprising a pair of forward extensions 58 with a cover 60 substantiallycoextensive with the planar member 56 secured to the extensions 58 toform a box-like receiver therebetween for retaining various articleswhich the patient may wish to transport. A bottom member, not shown,will enclose the rectangle formed by planar member 56, extensions 58,and cover 60.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the walking aid 10 is adapted for use byrelatively tall persons. Therein pivotally mounted extensions 26 havebeen positioned in alignment with vertical supports 12 whereby thehandle 30 is maintained a predetermined distance above the bar 16. Theposition of extensions 26 and handle 30 may readily be shifted byremoval of the bolts 24 and 28 and the cooperatingwing nuts 62, as shownmost clearly in Fig. 3.

The lower extremity 64 of the angular supports 32 are maintained apredetermined distance above the floor surfacewhen the edges 40 of thetransverse members 36 It is desirable that the wheels 44' are in contacttherewith. In one embodiment of this invention it was found desirablethat the lower extremity 64 be maintained one-eighth inch above thefloor surface. The purpose of so terminating the angular supports 32 isto serve as an aid in ascending or descending small steps or risers,such as are encountered in thresholds. When encountering such asdiscontinuity it will generally be found that the wheel 44 will tend torotate at an excessive rate and would cause the patient to fall forward,unable to maintain stability, unless some retarding force is provided.This retarding force is provided by this invention by the engagement ofthe lower extremity 64 of the angular supports 32 with the thresholdsurface or the like. Thus a rigid contact is formed between theextremity 64 and the surface, and in order to effect rolling movement ofthe device it will be necessary for the patient to provide a substantialforward force on the handle 30 in order to tilt the device forwardly andonce again produce engagement of the wheels 44 with the surface.

Whileone particular embodiment has herein been describedwhichcon-templates the use primarily of wooden elements andnut and boltsecuring means, it is believed obvious that the structure may becomposed of steel tubing or the like; either bolted or riveted into thedesired assembly or welded into an integral structure. Furthermore,various modifications of this invention may be readily conceivedwhich-will employ alternate positioning of the wheels at varying anglesforwardly of the angular supports 32 or may provide skid surfaces 40extending rearwardly from the vertical supports 12 a greater distancethan that hereinshown, whereby increased stability is attained to insureagainst inadvertent loss of balance and backwardmotion of the patient.Also, any type of vertical extension may readily be employed forpositioning the handle 30 at any desired height, or if the apparams isdesigned for a particular patient it may be initially manufacturedhaving bar 16' at the predetermined desirable height for said particularpatient, thus completely eliminating the need for vertical extensions 26and handle 30. As the walking skill and self-confidence of a patientdevelops he will'find it desirable to place increasing force on thefront wheels and reduce the weight borne by the skids. Thus more normalstrides may be taken as skill develops with less reliance being'placedupon the walking aid. Withoutfurther' elaboration, the foregoing will sofully explain the character of my invention that others may, byapplying" current knowledge, readily adapt the same for useund'e'r'varying conditions of service, while retaining certain featureswhich may properly be said to constitute the essential items" of noveltyinvolved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. A walking aid comprising handle means, a supporting structurefor'positioning said handle means in spaced relationship to a walking.surface, wheel means secured to the forward portion of said supportingstructure for engagemen't with such walking surface and having a fixedaxis of rotation, skid means fixed to the rearward portion of saidsupporting structure, and stop means fixed adjacent to said wheel'meanshaving awalking surfaceen agingrace disposed above'the' plane of saidskid means and the surface-engagin'g-portion of said wheel means.

2. A walking" aid comprising handle means, a supporting structure forpositioning said handle means in spaced relationship to a walking:surface, said supporting structure having; a pair of planarmembersdisposed in spaced parallel relationship with the handle meansdisposed therebetween, wheel means'for engaging such walking surface andsecured tothe-forward portion of each of said spaced parallel memberswith a fixed axis of rotation substantially. normal thereto, skid meansat the rearward portion of each of said planar members, and stop meansfixed adjacent to and rearwardly of each of said wheel means, said stopmeans having a lower walking surfaceengaging face disposed above theplane of said skid means and the surface-engaging portion of said wheelmeans.

3. A walking aid comprising handle means, a supporting structure formaintaining said handle means in spaced relationship to a walkingsurface, wheel means secured to the forward portion of said supportingstructure for engagement with such walking surface and having highrotational friction on a fixed axis, skid means disposed at the rearwardportion of said supporting structure, and stop means fixed adjacent tosaid wheel means having a Walking surface-engaging face disposed abovethe plane of said skid means and the surface-engaging portion of saidwheel means.

4. A walking aid comprising handle means, a supporting structure forpositioning said handle means in spaced relationship to a walkingsurface, said supporting structure having a pair of planar membersdisposed in spaced parallel relationship with the handle means disposedtherebetween, Wheel means for engaging such walking surface and securedto the forward portion of each of said spaced parallel members with afixed axis of rotation substantially normal thereto and a highcoefiicient of rotating friction, skid means at the rearward portion ofeach of said planar members, and stop means fixed adjacent to andrearwardly of each of said wheel means, said stop means having a lowerwalking surface-engaging face disposed above the plane of said skidmeans and the surfaceengaging portion of said wheel means.

5. A walking aid comprising handle means, a supporting structure forpositioning said handle means in spaced relationship to a walkingsurface, means secured to said supporting structure for adjusting theposition of said handle means with respect to such walking surface, saidsupporting structure having a pair of planar members disposed in spacedparallel relationship with the handle means disposed therebetween, wheelmeans for engaging such walking surface and secured to the forwardportion of each of said spaced parallel members with a fixed axis ofrotation substantially normal thereto, skid means at the rearwardportion of each of said planar members, and stop means fixed adjacent toand rearwardly of each of said wheel means, said stop means having alower walking surface-engaging face disposed above the plane of saidskid means and the surface-engaging portion of said wheel means.

6. A walking aid comprising handle means, a supporting structure forpositioning said handle means in spaced relationship to a walkingsurface, said supporting structure having a pair of planar membersdisposed in spaced parallel relationship with the handle means disposedtherebetween, wheel means for engaging such walking surface and securedto the forward portion of each of said spaced parallel members with afixed axis of rotation substantially normal thereto, article-receivingmeans disposed between said planar members and secured thereto, skidmeans at the rearward portion of each of said planar members, and stopmeans fixed adjacent to and rearwardly of each of said wheel means, saidstop means having a lower walking surface-engaging face disposed abovethe plane of said skid means and the surface-engaging portion ofsaidwheel means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,572,480 Hislop Feb. 9, 1926 1,729,557 Stoll Sept. 24, 1929 2,656,874Robb Oct. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,820 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1891185,067 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1922

